Forty-seven years ago, McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac, which remains one of the most visible top-selling products in the fast-food industry today. The 1970s-era jingle that accompanied McDonald’s commercials paid homage to the ingredients that made the Big Mac a hit: “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.”

Each one of the Big Mac ingredients serves a very specific purpose in building the perfect burger. So, think of your real estate business as an entrepreneurial analogue to this iconic sandwich: Do you have all the right ingredients?

So how can all of us at The Cascade Team build a business using the same winning formula McDonald’s used to create the Big Mac?

1. Substance (all-beef patties): “Sometimes we get caught up in the shiny things,” such as the latest gadgets and gizmos. But that’s just dressing on the substance of your business, which should be customer service. How do you make the customer experience great? That’s the foundational ingredient of our business.
2. Originality (special sauce): In the age of the Internet, it’s easy to duplicate what someone else has done and call it your own. If you’re imitating outside branding techniques or tactics, you’re not giving your clients anything new. “Imitation online will not get you anywhere, and it will not mean anything to people who have seen it 17,000 times in other places,”. And That's why at www.TheCascadeTeam.com/marketing we have invested the money to create our own proprietary systems. From the Personal Property Websites, to our own syndication platform, Marketing Boards, Integrated Home Feedback System, Smart Search and more The Cascade Team is leading the way and letting everyone else play catch-up.
3. Value (lettuce): “To me, lettuce is that thing that makes it not a dirty cheeseburger you bought on the side of the road,”. “It heightens the sophistication of the burger.” When you think of the customer experience you’re providing, are you adding something extra? When you truly go the distance by doing something for a client that wasn’t automatically expected of you, we’re adding lettuce to your burger and adding value to the experience.
4. Taste (cheese): “There’s something to be said about that one ingredient that makes everything just feel and taste better,”. Do something that makes your client feel good about their experience using your services. This is different than value, which is providing an extra service. The taste aspect focuses on appealing to your clients emotionally.
5. Crunch (pickles): This is the pizzazz you bring to the customer experience. It’s most often found in the personality you show when working with clients—your flair. “People go back and use service providers and vendors again because they remember how well they worked together,”. “The crunch is what makes the experience memorable, and it’s what will drive your customer to tell their family and friends, ‘You’ve got to call them.’”
6. Opinions (onions): “Most people love onions or hate them; almost no one is in between,”! “So the onions symbolize opinions, and we need to make sure our opinions are heard in this industry.” The spice of an onion represents people who take action, voice their opinions, and create change. That’s the kind of person customers want to work with.
7. Packaging (sesame seed bun): “If you get a burger with no bun, it’s awkward to eat,”. The bun packages the ingredients together so that it’s easy for the consumer to handle. “Is there something that makes your experience easy to consume?”, for www.TheCascadeTeam.com that packaging came in the form of our responsive website design!

The Final Ingredient

There’s another aspect beyond the ingredients themselves that’s given the Big Mac such incredible staying power over time: consistency. McDonald’s has delivered the same solid experience with the Big Mac since it became a worldwide phenomenon in 1968, never straying from the formula that proved successful.

“McDonald’s again showed genius when it started asking customers if they want fries with that,”. In real estate that means asking your clients, “Is there something else I can help you with?” That’s the thing they are going to tell other people about. That’s what they will remember you by.

So what’s on your burger?

About The Cascade Team Real Estate

Founded in 2006, The Cascade Team is a full-service real estate brokerage ready to assist you in any way you need.  Our local agents are committed to servicing you throughout the real estate transaction, and utilize some of the most advanced technology available.  Our home marketing platform combines superior technology, marketing and customer service, delivering you an optimal experience.  Our goal is to not just meet, but always exceed your expectations.  We have subsidiary divisions which include Business Opportunities, Property Management and our TCT Premiere luxury residential division.  We have office locations in the states of Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona.  If you would like more information or would assistance from a local professional, please contact us below.